Damian Lewis joins Shakespeare comedy Bill

After a feat of casting subterfuge of which his Homeland character would be proud, ScreenDaily can reveal that Damian Lewis is to guest star in upcoming Shakespeare comedy Bill.

Independent is shopping the comedy, which tells the story of what happened during Shakespeare’s ‘Lost Years’; how the hopeless lute player Bill Shakespeare left his family and home to follow his dream.

The film, currently in post-production, stars the BAFTA-winning lead cast of BBC TV’s Horrible Histories and Sky One’s Yonderland: Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond who each play multiple roles in the film.

The Cowboy Films/Punk Cinema production, produced by Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind and Tony Bracewell, is backed by BBC Films, the BFI Film Fund, Screen Yorkshire through its Yorkshire Content Fund and and LipSync.

Koch Media has distribution rights for the UK, Germany and Scandinavia.

Subscribe to Screen International

Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry. Subscribe now for monthly editions, awards season weeklies, access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations.